Parish Council News – June 2022

First of all, I would like to thank the many residents who have contacted the Parish Council office in support of the proposed Community and Health Centre at Court Meadow. Your comments have been passed on to the Councillors so that they are aware of your thoughts and concerns. At the time of writing this article the Annual Parish Assembly had not yet taken place so there will be an update on that in next month’s Newsletter article. 

Annual Meeting of the Parish Council

The Statutory Annual Meeting of the Parish Council took place on 9th May 2022. Cllr Gill Weavers stood down as Chairman having filled the position for three years. Cllr Deveda Redman was elected as Chairman and Cllr Julie Upton as Vice-Chair. I would like to thank Cllr Weavers for her time as Chairman as she has been a constant support during what has been a very busy and stressful three years. I would also like to welcome Cllr Reman and Cllr Upton to their new roles and thank them for stepping up.

Waste & Street Cleansing Industrial Action

At the time of writing this article, the strike by employees of our waste and street cleaning contractor, Biffa, and who are members of the GMB union was continuing. Biffa is committed to resolving the dispute and were engaging with representatives of the GMB union to reach a fair settlement for their employees and the residents of Wealden.

If the strike is off (fingers crossed) when this article is published, the rest of the following information will be irrelevant and there will be an update posted on the community website – the address for this is at the end of this article.

  • Rubbish collections – Refuse workers are managing approximately half of the rounds scheduled to empty rubbish bins household non-recyclable waste). Residents are therefore requested to put their rubbish bins out when they are due for collection. If it is not emptied, please leave it in place for three working days as efforts are being made to catch up on missed rubbish collections.  If it remains uncollected after three days please take it back in. 
  • Clinical waste and sharps box collections – operating as normal
  • Bulky Waste Collections – operating as normal
  • Bin deliveries and exchanges – operating as normal
  • Street litter bins and dog waste bins – operating as normal

The following are services are not operating: 

  •  Approximately half of the rubbish collections (see above)
  •  Garden Waste Collections
  •  Recycling Collections

When collections resume, Biffa will for a short period of time collect side waste to help clear the backlog. For extra recycling, please place it in non-black bags beside the bin. Please ensure recycling has been rinsed clean so that it is free from any remains of food or drink.

The four tips (Household Waste Recycling Sites) in Wealden run by East Sussex County Council are open as usual. Please check their website for locations, opening hours and site restrictions at:

https://new.eastsussex.gov.uk/ .Please note, for recycling waste some items may need to be separated into individual containers at the tip.

Welcoming refugees

The Parish Council would like to thank MAYFACS and all residents who are hosting and supporting the Ukrainian refugees and for setting up and helping in the support hub at the Shopping Basket. There has been a tremendous effort from so many and we are so very grateful to you all. It is an outstanding contribution to the community.

Hundreds of refugees from war-torn Ukraine are set to arrive in Wealden under the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme in the coming weeks. According to latest figures, there are more than 500 expected arrivals due in Wealden, which is the most in any district of East Sussex and twice as many as in any other constituency in East Sussex. This data has been released by East Sussex County Council, which is the lead authority co-ordinating the operation to welcome and settle Ukrainian refugees as they arrive in the county. Almost 1,200 refugees are due to arrive in East Sussex. Councillor Bob Standley has led the messages of welcome and support for the refugees.

He said, “I am proud, though not surprised, that the number of Wealden residents offering homes to Ukraine refugees is the highest in East Sussex. I am sure we are all appalled by the invasion of the independent country of Ukraine and the shocking pictures of the Russian attacks on civilians and the destruction of Ukraine villages, towns and cities. I know the new residents to our part of East Sussex will be welcomed with open arms as they settle into the Wealden district and the children are placed in local schools. 

Wealden District Council is working closely with East Sussex County Council and other voluntary agencies to welcome our Ukrainian guests.”

East Sussex County Council has published a Welcome to East Sussex guide, which is available in full Ukrainian translation at: 

https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/community/supporting-refugees/ukraine/support-for-ukrainian-guests

For any questions, hosts can contact the county council by email ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk or telephone helpline 01323 724748.

Hosts In the Homes for Ukraine scheme whose guests have already been with them for at least a month will be contacted with details of how they can request an optional £350 monthly thank-you payment. East Sussex County Council is developing a payment system for everyone and will update them soon. Anyone who does claim the optional monthly payment when the system is in place, will have their payments backdated to the first day their guests arrived. They would like to thank everyone for their patience. 

Temporary road closures

Picadilly Lane is scheduled to be closed from 20th June to 1st July 2022 to allow BT Openreach to carry out apparatus repair works.

Little Trodgers Lane is scheduled to be closed from 13th June to 17th June to allow UK Power Networks to carry out new power connection works.

Explore Wealden releases 2022 attraction guide

The new 2022/23 attractions guide showcases over 80 attractions within the district offering many ‘hidden gems’ for visitors to explore. The guide will be distributed to businesses within a two-and-a-half-hour drive time of the Wealden area and sent to tourist information centres nationally. Outlets including attractions, accommodation providers, hospitality and leisure venues, as well as libraries, leisure centres, retail shops and garden centres. In 2019 the total value of tourism was around £368 million, this included nearly half a million overnight stays and just under six million day trips. Wealden District Council wants to build on these numbers and increase the awareness of the district and maximise visitor expenditure.

Copies of the guide are available from economicdevelopment@wealden.gov.uk or you can download it: https://www.explorewealden.co.uk/whats-on-and-more/maps-and-attractions-guide

If you would like to improve your corner of the High Weald for wildlife or scenic beauty or have an idea that might enable others to access and enjoy this spectacular landscape there may be funding available through the Sussex Lund 2022 grant programme

Established by High Weald residents Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin, Sussex Lund is a collaboration between the High Weald AONB Partnership and Lund Trust. Sussex Lund supports small-scale, practical projects that improve the landscape of the High Weald AONB and the hamlets, villages and towns on its fringes. This year, for the first time it will support projects that help people to experience the landscape and build connections to it. For more information:

https://www.highweald.org/downloads/publications/project-reports/sussex-lund/2496-sussex-lund-2022-criteria-and-guidance/file.html

Parish Council Grants:

Please note that the application deadline for Parish Council grants each year is 30 September for payment in the following financial year. Information on how to apply and the application form can be found in the “Key Documents / Finance” section on the Parish Council website at https://mayfieldfiveashes.org.uk/

Parish Council Meetings

The meeting schedule on the website: http://www.mayfieldfiveashes.org.uk/ shows this month’s Council and Committee meetings as well as agendas, minutes of meetings and other meeting documentation

Janna Todd, Parish Clerk 

Old Manor House, High Street, Mayfield TN20 6AL 

Telephone 01435 873784          E-mail: clerk@mayfieldfiveashes.org.uk